"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and beready always to give an answerto every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear..." 1 Peter 3:15

Why do you believe what you believe?

It is easy, when one is raised in the church, to hold to a certain belief or theological position simply because it is what he or she grew up hearing. It is comfortable, like an old pair of jeans or a favorite cap. The truth rings as a familiar, beloved sound in your ears. Yet, the Disciple of Christ is called of God to not only believe certain truths, but also to be fully aware of where such truths are taught in God's Word.

Peter's above exhortation speaks volumes to the pupil of Christ. We are to be ready to give an answer. Readiness implies preparedness, a preparedness to show a curious inquirer the Biblical reason behind a theological position. Readiness implies that one has studied the only Rule of faith and practice, God's Holy Writ. When confronted with the question, "why do you believe in Predestination," a ready man can reply "because God's Word teaches it in Ephesians 1 and Romans 8." What a shame it would be, for a Disciple to respond with "well, that's just what I believe," or even worse, " I don't know."

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians (1 Thes. 1:4) "knowing brethren beloved, your election of God." Upon what information was this knowledge founded? Paul specified this immediately following when he wrote, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost..." The Thessalonian Christians believed in election, yea - they KNEW their election, because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their belief was founded in Bible truth.

May we ever be found as the noble Bereans, who searched the scriptures daily to see if these things are so. Let us form our views based exclusively upon "thus saith the Word of the Lord."